they say crews on a frigate locked their weapons radar on a japan self-defense force destroyer. they say it happened in the east china sea near islands both countries claim. >> translator: using this kind of radar, known as weapons radar, is an extremely unusual act. the japanese government believes that the situation could have become extremely dangerous. >> the defense minister revealed the incident happened on the morning on january 30th. the vessels were about three kilometers apart. he also says government analysts are investigating a separate incident from earlier in january. they suspect a chinese navy frigate locked its weapons radar on a self-defense force helicopter. japan and china have been locked in a dispute over the senkaku islands. the territory is in a area potentially rich in natural resources. japan controls the islands, china and taiwan claim them. the japanese government nationalized the islands last september. chinese surveillance ships have been navigating in and out of japanese waters near the territory ever since. the disagreement has affected diplomatic